obviously it's common knowledge by the time you get all the way down to a bass oboe, you're probably better off using a bassoon, unless you REALLY know what you're doing. they are less goosey but you're in a dangerous world with a bass oboe. and the top of the range, which you're trying to use instead of a cor anglais? just sounds like a worse clarinet, unless you make it shout. which you should not do, do not attempt to get a bass oboe riled up
@jk waiting for me coffee to kick in, i read 'bass oboe' and thought "OH that's what 'bassoon' stands for!!!!"